Remaining builds and upgrades in priority order. Each item builds on the previous. Ghost Spring first, then Lehle, then OBEL, then the rest.
Transformer-coupled single spring reverb unit. Full design, parts spec, schematic, and enclosure layout complete. Order parts and hand off to builder. Total cost ~$298–318.
Single parallel loop unit. Puts the QuadraVerb in a parallel loop — the dry signal path never touches the QuadraVerb's A/D converters. Ghost Spring stays in series after the Lehle; it's fully analog with its own Mix pot.
Buy used on Reverb.com or Music Go Round. Search "Lehle Parallel M."
On-Board Effects Loop buffer — either a Waldotronics OBEL Buffer pedal or a DIY JFET build. Moves the volume pot downstream of the pedalboard effects so turning down doesn't kill reverb and delay tails. Keeps the guitar's high-impedance pickup output isolated from pedal loading.
Complements the rack parallel mixer — OBEL protects the guitar-to-preamp path, the Lehle protects the preamp-to-amp path. Jerry Garcia ran both on Tiger, Wolf, and Rosebud.
Passive mute switch on the pedalboard that silently splits signal to the Sabine RT-1601 rack tuner when stomped. Most cleanly implemented as part of the OBEL loop — the wiring design is straightforward once the OBEL buffer is in place.
Currently the Sabine RT-1601 sits in the rack receiving a passive split from before the Alembic FX-1. The mute footswitch design formalizes this into a clean rack-integrated solution.
A rack compressor post-Alembic FX-1 would add the bloom and sustain character that gives notes a viola or horn-like swell — slow attack lets the pick transient through, medium-slow release sustains the tail. The goal is musical bloom, not squash.
Hold off until Ghost Spring and Lehle are in place and the chain is settled. Dial in the Alembic's EQ first — compressor after EQ in the decision sequence.
| Unit | Price Used | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| dbx 160A | ~$300–400 | Warm, transparent, "over easy" knee | Top recommendation. 1U, industry standard for live/studio. Precise ratio/attack/release. Fits the rack aesthetic perfectly. |
| dbx 165A | ~$250–350 | Same 160A lineage + integrated limiter | Good if you want an automatic ceiling on peaks going into the Lehle/Ghost Spring. |
| Summit Audio DCL-200 | ~$700–900 | Tube optical — warm, smooth, slow attack | Higher-end. The tube stage complements the Alembic FX-1's character. More colored but in a musical way. |
| UA 1176LN (or Black Lion clone) | ~$800–1200 orig / ~$400 clone | Fast FET — punchy attack control | Better for bite and presence than bloom. Less ideal for the viola/horn goal but excellent if you want a more aggressive compressed sound. |
| Boss CS-2 (pedal) | ~$80–120 | Guitar-voiced, simple, warm | Lower-fi option. Specifically voiced for guitar dynamics. Goes before the Alembic at instrument level. |
dbx 160A is the move for this rig — professional grade, transparent at low ratios, 1U rack, strong used market. Wait until Ghost Spring and Lehle are dialed in before deciding.